“Maybe one day we’ll find the place where our dreams and reality collide.”

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Everyone got asked this question a million times over the course of their childhood and maturation process. Our families wanted to know about our aspirations to be doctors, lawyers, firemen, police officers, and astronauts. Now don’t get me wrong. Some of us will indeed enter into our childhood “dream profession” and that is awesome. However, most of us have developed new interests and goals for our “real” career.

When I was in first grade, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Furthermore, on Career Dress Up Day I wore a lab coat, scrubs, stethoscope, and the whole nine yards to look the part of my “dream job” at the time. Additionally, my mom took a picture of me all dressed up with my cat. I mean it was so cute. As I continued through elementary school, I felt a desire to be a teacher. Moreover, I was the first student to explain a new concept to my classmate when they didn’t understand something.

One of my sixth-grade teachers said I had a natural approach to helping students learn. In eighth-grade, I decided that I wanted to be a pharmacist mainly because my aunt is one and I thought it was a super cool job. Over the course of those years, I listened to the people around me for direction into my potential field of study. Meanwhile, I was ignoring my “gut desires” and dreams, until ninth-grade that is.

My dream, for as long as I can remember, has been to help people in any way possible. In ninth grade, I discovered that my dreams could become my reality. I decided that I wanted to be a physical therapist. I could help people learn how to walk again, show them exercises that would help with lost motor skills, and see first-hand progress that defines inspiration. So, I set out on my quest to make my dreams become a reality. During my junior year of high school, I toured LaGrange College for the first time and was introduced to their Exercise Science Program and knew right then that it was the place for me. Fast forward two years, and now I am a declared exercise science major with a focus in the allied health route for occupational therapy.

Why is it that we think our dreams and reality can never intersect? I think it’s because that’s what the world says. The world makes it clear that in order to be stable and secure we must find a good-paying job and stick with that for the next 40 years. But should we listen to the media or our heart’s desires? For example, a person could be a lawyer, whether he or she enjoys the profession or not, and make great money which could support a family. On the other hand, that person could answer a life calling my becoming a missionary of the Gospel {a career choice that doesn’t result in monetary wealth}, rather eternal, life-saving wealth.

The world tells us that happiness is defined by fame, money, and possessions. However, those things are temporary. Choose a career that makes you excited to get up in the morning. A wise person once said, “If you love what you do, you’ll never have to work another day in your life.” So on that note, find your passion and go make a difference in the world.

{Don’t let anyone tell you that your dreams are unrealistic. Because, by goodness sakes, your dreams are attainable!}